RHINELANDER - We think of schools as places where we drop our kids off at the beginning of the day.

But Rhinelander school board president Ron Counter said budget problems within those schools could reach far beyond classroom doors.

The district is dealing with a 3-million dollar budget gap.

That means eight full-time teachers, all elective classes, and all extra-curriculars, from debate to football, could be cut.

Counter said a referendum is the only way around the problem.

"It would all depend on whether the board goes referendum or not," Counter said. "It would depend on whether the citizens would support a referendum or not. We're pretty much to the point in our program where any cuts will be absolutely devastating. It will become a time where we cannot prepare our students to take their place in the workplace, as a part of local manufacturing, that will have immense consequences within the entire community."

The board meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the high school auditorium.

There’s space for about 860 people, and you will be able to speak before the board decides on a referendum.

The board will then have until December 8 to decide.

Story By: Lex Gray